34. Tasya Sadhanani gayantyacharyah
Teachers (Acharyas) have described in hymns and psalms about the means of realising Bhakti.
Since ancient times the seers and sages have composed many hymns, psalms, mantras and songs etc. to achieve the perfection in divine love. Vedas, Puranas and Scriptures are full of these compositions. In the following Sutras the method of reaching the state of perfection's has been describe in detail.
35. Tat tu vishayatyagata sangatyagatcha
That Bhakti can be obtained by abandoning the worldly desires and by renunciation of attachment to the worldly objects.
It is possible to reach the state of Bhakti when one removes the obstacles, which come in the way of its realization. Having desire of worldly enjoyments interest in the objects of senses are the impediments in the path of a devotee. To give up the worldly pleasures totally and to have complete indifference and detachment with the sense objects are essential to realize perfection in Bhakti, according to Narad.
36. Avyavrita bhajanat
Bhakti can be attained by singing the glories the lord (Bhajans) without any interruption.
Being of single mind and totally absorbed in the lord free from worldly obstacles like lust, desires like dislikes etc, by singing his glories continually cone can reach the perfection in devotion. The devotee sees only god in all his works. Whatever he does, it is for the sake of God.
37. Lokeapi bhagawatgunashravankirtanat.
While doing the day to day activities of life, singing and hearing the glories of God (is the way of realizing him).
To do Bhajans or to hear and to listen to the glories of the lord does not mean that the devotee give up his ordinary activities of life. He only sees the presence of the lord in all his activities. He finds his daily works as a means to serve the lord. Food seems as if given to him by the grace of God. He seeks to serve the lord by all his activities in the world.
38. Mukhyatastu mahatkripavaiva bhagawatkripaleshad va
One realizes perfection in devotion through the grace of the great souls or through the small grace of the lord.
Bhakta gets guidance by the grace of his guru or some great soul. Dhruva, Prahlad etc. obtain perfection through the guidance and grace of sage Narad himself. A small grace of god can also help one to realize Bhakti. Mira, Nanak etc great souls attained perfection by the grace of God.
39. Mahatsangastu durlabhoagamyoamoghos
(But) the contact with the great souls Chya and to be benefitted by such contacts is very rare. The influence of such a soul is subtle, in comprehensible and unfailing in its effect.
This Sutra of Narad is of even greater relevance today. So called God-men, Babas and Gurus are growing in plenty. But Narad is not describing these types. He sages that are very rare to come in contact with a great soul a true Guru. In this time, hypocrisy and fraud souls were rare to come by. Today it is virtually impossible to come into contact with such a soul. But the effect of such a soul is subtle, deep and unfailing. The influence of Sarnarth, Guru Ramdas on Shivaji is the example of one such event.
40. Labhyateapi tatkripayaiva
Nevertheless, realization of Bhakti is possible only through the grace of God or god-men alone.
Narad reiterates that Bhakti is by the grace of God or god-men alone. By one's own efforts it cannot be obtained.
41. tasminastatajjane bhedabhavat
Because there is no difference between God and his devotee.
Here Narad tells about the oneness of God and his devotee. The devotee becomes established in God alone. When the difference between God and devotee is vanished that is Bhakti.
42. Tadeva sadhyata tadeva sadhyatama
Whatever practices enable us to find his grace, we should adopt them.
There cannot be any limit to the extent of his kindness. We should strive to become worthy of his kindness. All the obstacles in this way, such as worldly desires and other bondages, should be removed.
43. Duhsanga Sarvathaive tyajya
Evil company must be shunned by all means at all the times.
As the company of great souls has been said to be very beneficial for one's salvation. Similarly there can be no greater evil than the company of evil men to lead one to the path of evil and ruination. Evil company must always be shunned like poison at all the times. It is an old saying, "a man is known by the company he keeps."
44. Kamakrodhamoha smritibranshabuddhinash karantvat.
It (evil company) leads to lust, anger, and delusion, loss of memory and discrimination and complete ruination.
It is not possible to enumerate the evil effects caused by bad companions. Bad company lead one to total ruination by all means.
45. Tarangayita apime sangata samudrayante.
These (evil effects) rise in form of small ripples in the beginning but by associating with the evil company they become virtually like an ocean.
Even small faults and shortcomings in men, become many time more aggravated by associating with the evil company. These shortcomings become like deep oceans and it becomes very difficult to get out of these shortcomings. Ultimately such a man leaves the good path and sinks into the depths of worldly lusts, sinful ways and his path of salvation is closed.
46. Kastarati Kastarati Mayam Yah Sangrantyajati Yo Mahanubhavan Sevate Nirmamo Bhavati.
Who is capable of crossing over the illusion of the One, who abondons all such things which arouses the desire for sensual pleasures after they come in contact with the sense organ.
One who relinquishes all his materialistic-wealth after coming in contact with the saints and engaging himself in their Servitude. Narad says that only such people can successfully cut the web of this illusionary net(world), who abondons all such things which are likely to influence his sense organs. His mind become tranquil and devoid of any passion. He gets benefitted from being in the company of virtuous people & saints. He engages himself in their service and by their blessings, he successfully gets liberated from all the bondages of their world.
47. Yo viviktasthanam sevate ye lok bandhumunmulayati histraigunyo bhavati, yogashemam tyajati
Narad gives the characteristics of a devotee. He says,
Living in a lonely and pure place, freed from all his desires and bondages of all the three worlds going beyond the three modes of nature (gunas); going up all the desires of acquisition and preservation (the attains to Bhakti).
Narad says that a seek after Bhakti keeps his dwelling in a lonely and pure place, so that he does not face unwarranted disturbances. He can become one minded and devotee himself fully in the love of God. That devotee does not have any desire for anything in all three worlds. He transcends the three gunas of nature, he becomes 'gunatita'. He does not even think of acquiring worldly possessions or be concerned about their preservation.
48. Yah karmaphalam tyajati, karmani sanyastha, tato nirdvandvo bhavati
He gives up all the fruits of his work, renounces all selfish pursuits and transcends all the dualities like pleasure and pain etc.
49. (yo) vedanapi sannayasthi, kevalamvicchinnanuragam labhate
He gives up even the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the Vedas and the scriptures. He only hankers after the god unmindful of anything else.
50. Sa tarati sa tarati sa lakanstarayati
He goes beyond this maya undoubtedly and he is able to carry the world beyond this maya (delusion).
Bhakta not only goes beyond the world of illusion himself but he is capable of taking the whole world, who follow his path, with him beyond the delusions of this world. Guru Nanak, Kabir etc are such Bhakta's who helped countless people to cross the world of illusion in their company.
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